Godfather of entrepreneurship Patrick Amarasinghe passes away

Patrick Amarasinghe

Senior business leader and famed for promoting entrepreneurship in the country, Patrick Amarasinghe passed away on Thursday night at the age of 83 after a brief illness.

A pioneer and award winning exporter, Amarasinghe rose to fame with Woodplex and Furnifits. 

An old Anandian and accountant by profession, he took to entrepreneurship and with success played a key role in championing entrepreneur interests in the country as well as employment for graduates and youth especially via the US Junior Achievement initiative in Sri Lanka. These efforts made economist Dr. Saman Kelagama describe Amarasinghe as the “Godfather of Entrepreneurship”.

Woodplex, which he set up in 1971, won four National Export Awards in 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1985. Furnifits Ltd. was established in 1980 as an associate company of Woodplex to create a wide range of utility multipurpose furniture, including knockdown furniture made of rubber wood. Furnifits was the first branded furniture introduced to the market.

He was President of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) from 1992 to 1998 – the first time a President has been unanimously elected beyond two years.

During his tenure, he initiated the Annual Entrepreneur of the Year Awards Scheme at provincial and national level and a human resources development division. He was also instrumental in publishing the first Career Guidance Directory.

He is also the Founder President/President Emeritus of the National Chamber of Exporters Sri Lanka (NCE) 1986 to 2002. He held this position for a record 15 years and was responsible for the initiation of the Annual NCE Export Awards Scheme in 1992.

Amarasinghe was also the Chairman of Ceylon National Chamber of Industries. 

In 1996, the US-based Junior Achievement gave him permission to start the Junior Achievement Worldwide Program in Sri Lanka. In 1998 the Ministry of Education gave the green light and Young Entrepreneurs Sri Lanka (YESL) was established in 1998 and registered as a non-profit organisation to carry out the JA program. 

He held many other prestigious positions during his time, including the following: Chairman, People’s Rural Development Association; Director, Japan Lanka Industrial Development Association (PRDA); President, Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry Sri Lanka (FCCISL) 1992-1998; Founder President/President Emeritus, National Chamber of Exporters Sri Lanka (NCE) 1986-2002; President, Furniture Manufacturers Association (FMA); Chairman, Ceylon National Chamber of Industries (CNCI); Director, Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB); Director, Board of Investment (BOI); Director, NAITA National Apprentice Industrial Training Authority; Director, TVEC Tertiary Vocational Educational Commission; Director, Human Resources Development Council; Member, Staff Development Committee – University Grants Commission; and Founder President, Dehiwala Mt. Lavinia Jaycees. He has also served on several policy making bodies.

The President of Sri Lanka conferred Amarasinghe with the national honour ‘Deshabandu’ for his socioeconomic contribution towards the country.

Amarasinghe was also presented the Most Outstanding Award for 1992-1995 by Lions Club International District 306 A Sri Lanka in recognition of his superlative contribution to community welfare and development in business and commerce.

His remains lie at A.F. Raymond Funeral Parlour, Borella. The funeral will be at Borella Kanatte on Saturday at 4 p.m.